A case of apparent gabapentin withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation of gabapentin
 

This is only the abstract. Can anyone get the full study? I have hopes of discontinuing this medication. Thank you

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20484214

Hi Pinkynose

Sorry I don't have access to a full copy of that report. Hopefully someone else can provide it for you.

I understand your wanting to discontinue with gabapentin (Neurontin) and your concern about withdrawal. This is a link to a website that offers free information and a program for medication dependent patients wanting to self taper.

http://www.theroadback.org/neurontin-withdrawal.aspx

Click on the top right of the page for a link to access the program.

Hope this is useful. All the best for finding a way to discontinue gabapentin without withdrawal issues.

Thank you bluesfan for this information. I just sent them an email.

Have you used the products or do you know anyone who has? I ask because I just read on a website (http://survivingantidepressants.org/...e-supplements/) that the company you buy the products needed for withdrawal is Neuro Genetic Solutions, who manufactures all The Road Back's supplements. Its president is Jim Harper, owner of The Road Back. What gets me is them stating ,""The Road Back does not sell these supplements." I hate when organizations are deceptive and that's what it feels like to me. Or maybe the organization that is outing them is the deceptive one. It's so hard to know anymore!

Regardless, I will definitely use the free information and I am glad to have it.

That is quite a list, rather scary. I have been wanting to get off of Gabapentin, I have cut back to 400mg from 800 mg 4 times a day very slowly a few days with each cutting in half. That is how the pharmacy had recommended I go on it very slowly. Lots of side effects going on it. I have been on it almost a year now.

The neurologist seemed to want to get me to that high dose as fast as possible grrrrrrrrr. hmmmm after saying that to you, I can see that the pharmacy will be more help getting off of it than the neurologist. Thanks for sharing this with me.
gratefully
zinnia

When I wanted to taper off the Neurologist said you can do It slower than what is recommended for most. In other words just take off 100 mg from the evening dose for one week, then another 100 the following week from both the evening and afternoon dose and so forth........

Cliffman :)

When I quit taking neurontin my doc put me on lyrica for a while first, and when I did quit a few months later it was no trouble at all. Lyrica is the newer (and more expensive) evolution of neurontin. Be careful with these meds, as I have heard several people (including me) say that it seemed to cause the peripheral neuropathy, and that is no fun.

Sorry pinkynose - I didn't know about the connection to the supplement sales. I did wonder about "The Road Back" self-hype as being a little OTT so maybe that fits with the supplement pitch. Hopefully the information is still useful, as is that given by other NT members here.

I personally haven't used the products - so far I haven't had any medications likely to produce withdrawal symptoms. (I'm not permitted to take opiate medications due to interactions with the steroids I'm on for managing Addison's).

Your thread interested me because I have been offered gabapentin for neuropathy pain - to date I've refused it for several reasons: The side-effects; it's addictive; I have so few options for pain relief that I wanted to keep it in reserve for when the pain became unbearable and I have adverse reactions to several meds so I may not even be able to take it.

At present I'm researching Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) as an option - if I can get my endo's approval.

Let us know how you do on your taper and what you find works for you. All the best for a smooth ride and we're here to support you along the way.

Hi Pinkynose, I also have some experience with getting off Gabapentin. As others have said, go very slowly. When I went off several years ago, I went slow and didn't really have a major problem until it came time to take that last cut down to zero. Don't be surprised if you have some anxiety and insomnia type issues, as well as an increase in your PN symptoms. (Basically, anything that happenned when you went on Gabapentin, you can expect to get the reverse of when you go off.)

Thank you Cliffman.

zinnia

I think everyone is different. I have two neighbors taking 600mg twice per day or 3 times per day They never have problems and love it. I was taking 300mg once per day. After going off the medication very slowly, a month later I had a seizure. I have no prior history of seizures. While on gabapentin I began to have a constant twitching in my left eye, elbow and behind my left knee. I do not know the seizure was related but I remember the pharmacist told me it could happen. I thought a month later I was fine but he said even a month later because by stopping the gabapentin it had lowered my threshold and along with other factors like stress it was more than I could handle and very well could have been the cause of my seizure. Best bet is to take good care of yourself get good nutrition, sleep and manage stress for the best results. Good Luck and God Bless!